Commissioner pitches Circle traffic concepts

Commissioner Phill Younger says it’s no secret that traffic is an issue for Longboat Key and our neighboring islands. But he thinks what really needs to be looked at is what’s causing Longboaters traffic headaches as they try to navigate through the Circle on their way home.

While Town Manager Dave Bullock and Mayor Jack Duncan convinced the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to direct the Florida Department of Transportation to conduct an area-wide study to ease barrier island traffic in season, Younger has some tips for St. Aramands Circle that he thinks will make a big difference in commute times in season.

Modifying parking on the John Ringling Blvd/North Washington:

"It should be re-visited to alleviate and smooth the flow of especially northbound traffic, but also beach-bound and shopping-destination traffic," Younger says.

To do this, Younger suggests moving 19 angled parking spots from the median park side to the storefront side. Then, he says parallel parking spots currently on the storefront side should be eliminated. 

"Move the beach-bound west traffic lane adjacent to the median park," Younger says. "Restrict the lane immediately behind the angled parking to ingress and egress only for the parking spots.  This eliminates impeding traffic due to parked cars backing into the traffic lane." 

Alleviate northbound traffic heading to Longboat Key: 

"Indications are that upwards to 50% of all westbound traffic crossing The Ringling Bridge is destined north towards Longboat Key," Younger says. "There is no valid reason to route this northbound traffic, which has no intention of stopping to shop or dine into the Circle, subject it to high-traffic pedestrian crossings and past the business storefronts."

To fix this problem, Younger suggests northbound traffic traveling on John Ringling Blvd could be routed along the back side of the businesses via North Adams/Madison drives to Boulevard of the Presidents. To accomplish the reroute, Younger says eight parallel parking spots need to be eliminated. The moves, Younger said, would create the new detour route "into essentially a curving single road."

"The property required to round these corners would be miniscule, and only about four homes facing Madison would be subject to increased traffic," Younger said. "But those homes already face the commercial parking lot, and there would be no excess intrusion into any neighborhood streets with houses on both sides of the road."

Some minor acquisition of property, Younger said, would also be needed to create the new detour route.